A group of evolutionary biologists (but let’s just call them saints) analyzed the science behind the way humans dance. They claim to have figured out exactly which dance movements catch a woman’s eye.

Researchers at Northumbria University and the University of Gottingen wanted to know what exactly women look for in a dance partner. According to the researchers, dancing ability in men serves as a signal to women of the quality of a potential mate.

So the researchers set up an experiment as follows: they recruited 30 men to dance to a core drum beat for 30 seconds. The dancers were given no specific instructions on how to dance beforehand, and their movements were recorded via a sophisticated motion-capture system. Each dancer’s 30-second routine was then used to animate a “featureless, gender-neutral” computer-generated avatar. Researchers asked 37 women to view each of the dancing avatars and rate their performance on a seven-point scale.

The researchers were able to recreate the most favorable dance moves with an avatar. This blank-faced man below is considered the more favorable dancer, according to the research.

Watch it a few more times. Memorize the moves. Maybe get a full body suit to look like the avatar. Whatever gets you laid.

Here’s an example of the more “unfavorable” dance moves.

Is that dancing? Looks more like “drunk guy hovering around circle of hot girls dancing” or “guy trying to play off the fact he’s suddenly dancing alone.”

Researchers concluded that women rated dancers higher if they showed “larger and more variable movements of the head, neck and torso.” Speed of leg movements mattered too, particularly bending and twisting of the right knee.

The researchers did admit that “facial attractiveness, body shape and even perceived socioeconomic status play a role in how people judge the dancing ability of their peers.” So, just like we all knew before this silly experiment got funded — you could dance like Derek Hough but if you’re ugly, fat and poor it’s not going to make a difference.